Riyaz :1 User Comments
For comments see below…
TablaLab TalaClass for iPad
Demonstrates key exercises for sharpening rhythm skills. Speaks number divisions (microbeats) within a theka cycle to show different jatis and phrasing ideas. Activities in: teental, rupaktal, ektal, jhaptal. Hundreds of variations on key exercises in an instant. Available on the App Store or try it here first.
TablaLab Riyaz for iPad
Calls out a phrase for you to repeat. Categories of phrases include:
Warm up, ti ri ke te tak ke, dhire dhire, ge re na ge, rela and tihais. A new source of ideas and inspiration for your practice.
Available on the App Store or try it here first.
Version 1.0.1 is finalised now and that is the one live in the demo.
I’m very happy to announce that this version has been approved by Apple and will be available from 1st of Feb on the iTunes Store.
Suggestions you may add here will be considered for future updates. I hope to refine the content regularly to make this app as powerful as possible in its aims to aid practice.
All comments appreciated, thank you!
I’ve just played around with it, and I think it’s a terrific app for beginners (and I should think even intermediate players!) for the following reasons:
1) whether intended or not, the pedagogical idea behind it I think is quite sound, namely that especially for beginners, the best route is to practice (repeatedly) a wide variety of very common phrases (there are almost 150 different phrases grouped in 10 different categories). (Indeed this is the new thinking behind what is called “varied practice”. I highly recommend the following article for the theoretical underpinnings of this idea at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varied_practice).
The varied practice approach focuses on the distribution of practice in time, the organization of activities to be practiced (blocked vs. random), and the interleaving of information or content to highlight distinctions that facilitate learning. For example, a varied practice approach to learning to shoot a basketball might involve a sequence of ten mid-range jump shots, followed by ten lay-ups, followed by ten free-throws, followed by ten three-pointers, with the entire cycle repeating ten times. This contrasts with traditional approaches in which the learner is encouraged to focus on mastering a particular aspect or subset of the relevant information before moving on to new problems (e.g., focusing on free-throws before moving to three pointers). With varied practice, the learner is exposed to multiple versions of the problem even early in training. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varied_practice
2) the interface is excellent. You can control the number of repetitions (2,4,8 and 99). You can control the pitch, and of course the tempo. And it’s easy to repeat phrases or to skip ahead to other preferred phrases. Once everything is set, the phrases repeat for the chosen cycle, and then automatically moves on to the next phrase.
3) the tabla sounds seem quite authentic. For example, a sequence of “te te” sounds as it should, namely that each one sounds distinctly different in spite of the notation being identical. Sequences of “ge ge” and “dha dha” and the like are also nicely modulated on the bayan side.
4) It’s visually appealing in that the bols have different colors, and quite large and easy to see.
(If there’s one suggestion I have (and this is truly minor) it would be this: the text on the information page is a bit difficult to read because the font chosen seems to smoosh the letters to closely together making it harder to read).
Overall, this strikes me as a terrific tool for tabla riyaz.
Pascal
Yea, looks good and sounds good too which is an achievement in itself..the concept is sort of i-gurushishayaparampara….for want of a better term, and reflects the aural learning concept that is unique to ICM…listen and repeat…and as such I think it should be embraced by the establishment.
Hi. What a fantastic idea! I agree with the feedback given by Greg and Pascal. As a graphic designer (you can see my web), I just have a few suggestions.
The instructions text as stated before is hard to read. Keep it simple. Stick to traditionals like the very abused Helvetica.
The yellow borders around the different panes could be toned down a bit so they don’t contrast that much and hurt the eyes. The same with the rest of the colors.
The same with the white text. A trick is to not make it white but add like 5-15% grey depending on the case. If you see the font color of the comments on these posts, they are not black but grey.
Best wishes,
Janzel
Thanks for these comments Janzel. I have changed the font already for the instruction text and will include the changes in the next demo upload. It’s funny that you mention toning down the colours. I thought I was using too many greys already.. I tried using more black but didn’t like the effect and returned to grey tones. The bright colours for bols I like quite a lot but maybe a few could be toned down. The yellow should be kept the same as the yellow in the logo or perhaps reduced in brightness slightly. I was thinking that for an iOs app where the screen has to be on continously, it would make sense to use more black to save battery… but like I said I prefer the design as it is with the pallette of greys. Anyway will keep playing with it..!
Sure. Yes, just reduce the brightness of the yellow (that’s another form of “greying”). Good luck!!
This app fills a void in the study of tabla, especially by those who study and learn primarily on their own. Technology is changing the study of tabla, and now one can even learn subtleties on YouTube sites (White India being one of the very best) Still, the key is riyaz… practice, and it is great to be able to make practice more interesting and fun. The tempos and keys are variable, and a pattern can be either looped for continuous repetition, or set to play consecutive patterns which can then be followed and repeated, thus aiding memory, recognition and technique. Included are a generous selection of various patterns, with appropriate spacing afterward for student repetition. This kind of app is the reason I bought an iPad. Now, if my Apple stock would just go back up…
Nice app!
It would be grate if you can create your own loops. Isn’t it nice if you could add your own Kayda and its variations to learn it with this app.
Hi Boris,
There is an early demo version of an app I made which does exactly that. You can actually use it on my other site… Mecaudio.eu I might move it over here soon. Give it a go. Thanks
Marc
That url has been changed to mecaudio.co.uk
hi all – can anyone tell what this bol is “chik ” like in dha ne chik na na that is found in the laggi phrases – thanks in advance
Hi Fred – Yes.. that bol goes by a few names… it is the short dead ‘snap’ sound played with first finger on maidan or kinar.. usually on the inside though.. so usually right next to black / syahi – it is used like tak.
I downloaded Tabla Riyaz app. How do you change cycle speed from 16 to different ones?
Most of the activities are in teental (16) but there are some pages in other tals.
There is a kaherwa activity which is 4/8 beats.
The simple theka activity has thekas for ektal and jhaptal too.
I will make some more content for this soon so you will get an update flagged on your device.
Most people are only concerned with teental when starting out so I made most content in that tal.
Would be nice to expand it out though.
Marc
I’ve just opened a TablaLab forums page so that we can discuss these kind of issues in a more structured environment. They look good! Need some members now!
http://www.tablalab.com/?page_id=493